The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-07-06
The Land of Snakes.

Virginia is the land of snakes, many
of them of the most venomous kind.
Rattlesnakes are quite common, and l
believe my life was saved from destruc-
ton by one of them through the sa-
gacity of my horse. We were returning
down the peninsula from a raid within
few miles of Richmond, whittier we
had been sent (unsuccessfully) to de-
1t was in the early days of July, and
the blackberries hung in clustering
profusion upon the bushes that lined
the roadside. We fairly reveled in the
delicious fruit-so much so that the
expedition was long known as "the
blackberry raid" For day or two we
almost subsisted upon the berries. The
bushes that bordered the highway were
tall, and their fruit coarse and not so
sweet as the berries that grew upon low
bushes in the open fields. Riding into
one of these fields l espied well-laden
bush and dismounted by it, in anticipa-
ton of a rich repast. Throwing the
bride rein over the horses head to
permit him to Craze, | held fast to it
with one hand, while with the other /
began the work of plucking the fruit.
In moment | heard a peculiar dull
sound, something like smothered
rattle, or the flutter of a bird flying
rapidly from its cover, and the next |
was jerked at least ten feet by my
horse-almost pulled out of my boots
and when | drew him up he snorted
wildly and seemed to be under the
influence of some sudden fear. Re-
! no a | a N a
in moment the cause of the horses
alarm, and springing into the saddle he
bore me out of that field at the top of
his speed, nor did he recover from his
! fright until some time after we had
| Joined the column. OF course had not
my horse pulled me away should
have been instantly struck by the fangs
of the deadly snake, to whose poison
almost the only known antidote is
whiskey, and as there was not probably
a pint of that article in the whole COM
mand 1--WE had been more than two
weeks on the march and the original
supply was long since eXhausted) it is
not at all likely should be here. Either
that night or the following one our
regiment encamped in the rebel earth
works at Big Bethel, in the attempt to
capture which the Second Regiment
experienced the first shock of battle.
The approach to the works from in
front was by single causeway, on
either side of which was an immense
marsh. | could see beyond this marsh
upon little hillside some blackberry
bushes which gave promise of luxuri.
ant growth. | accordingly made my
way thither, and while enjoying the
refreshment that the berries afforded
| heard a cracking in the canebrake
and looking around beheld young
heifer approaching me in rapid flight
| do not know whether ought to be-
lieve my eyes or not, but certain it is
then saw, or thought saw, snake in
pursuit of the heifer in size twice as
large as my arm and at least ten fee
long, with head erect and body rolling
in waves over the ground. 1t is M
fiction to say | was probably as dread
fully frightened as ever / was in my
life; and, having lost all appetite fo
blackberries, beat hasty retreat fo
the camp. OF course, did not stop t.
see what the snake proposed to do will
the COW, but | suppose its intention
was the harmless one of milking her.
Major W. T.. KiSSelburgh.